Cylinder lock



Aug. 9, 1966 F. msnm CYLINDER LOCK Filed Jan. 29, @F54 INVENTQR l BY Frlz Hmm ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,264,852 CYMNDER LOCK Fritz Gysiu, Zollikofen, Switzerland, assigner to A. 8: R. Wiedemar, Bern, Switzerland Filed Ian. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 341,020 Claims. (Cl. 711-358) This invention relates to a cylinder lock comprising a pin tumbler cylinder rotatably mounted in an outer cylinder or plug, the tumbler cylinder comprising a slot of flat cross section adapted to receive the key having a iat cross section. In cylinder locks of this type the pin tumblers are usually accommodated in one row of bores disposed in a common plane with the said slot and key respectively, the pins being controlled by a profilated edge surface of the key. The key has only one prolated edge surface and has always to be inserted into the lock in the same position. A maximum of tive pin tumblers is usually provided so that the possibilities of different adjustment of the lock and key are limited.

Another type of cylinder locks are known wherein the pin tumblers are movable in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the key and wherein the pin tumblers are controlled by a key having rows of recesses of different depths. In these prior locks the number of pin tumblers and accordingly the number of possible individual locks is increased.

However, one common drawback of the above prior cylinder locks resides in the necessity of using springloaded pins in the plug of the lock cooperating with the key-controlled pin tumblers of the cylinder of the lock. Therefore, these prior locks are complicated land unreliable in operation.

It is a first object of this invention to provide a cylinder lock of simple and reliable construction avoiding springs and spring loaded pins in the plug, but allowing accommodation of double rows of pin tumblers controlled by opposite surfaces of the key. This is achieved by providing pin tumblers displaceable in grooves extending throughout the cylinder substantially parallel to the plane of the keys, the pin tumblers being controlled by grooves in the side surfaces of the key and the pin tumblers being maintained in a predetermined rest position by gravity when the lock is in its locking or open position.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be explained below with reference to the attached drawing showing, by way of example, three embodiments of the invention.

FIG. l is an axial section of a first embodiment of the lock with the key ready for insertion into the lock,

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the lock along line II-II in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is cross section of the lock along line III-III in FIG. l,

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section along line IV-IV in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic illustrations for explanation of the lock operation.

FIG. 7 is a top View of the second embodiment and FIG. 8 is a top view of a third embodiment.

The lock illustrated in FIGS. l6 has a cylindrical plug 1 accommodated in a sheet 2. The plug 1 has four pairs of axially extending rows of bores 3, 4, 5 and 6 spaced by 90, whereby the bores of diametrically opposite pairs of rows are coaxially aligned. More specifically, each bore 3 is in coaxial alignment with an opposite bore 5 and each bore 4 is in coaxial alignment with a bore 6.

The pin tumbler cylinder 7 is rotatably mounted in the plug 1, but the rot-ating movement of cylinder '7 is limited to an angle of 90 by a stop pin 8 fixed in the plug 1 and engaging a groove 9 of the cylinder 7. The cylinder rice has an axial extension 11i for connection with the bolt work not shown. The cylinder has a slot or groove 11 of flat rectangular cross section for receiving the key portion 12 having a similar tlat rectangular cross section. The key portion 12 has pairs of control grooves 13 and 14 in its side surfaces, whereby similar symmetrical grooves are provided at symmetrically opposite places the key. In other language, a groove similar to groove 13 but of symmetrical shape is provided on the rear surface opposite the groove 141 and another groove similar to groove 14 but of symmetrical shape is provided on the rear surface opposite the groove 13, so that exactly the same arrangement of grooves 13 `and 14, appears when the key is rotated by to its opposite position. It is thus obvious that the key may be used in any one of two opposite positions.

The cylinder 7 has rows of grooves in opposite side surfaces of the slot I1. Each groove has an inner portion 15 of substantially circular cross section and an outer portion 16 of substantially semicircular cross section communicating with the slot 11. While the groove portions 15 extend throughout the cylinder 7, the groove portions 16 are open at their upper end (FIG. 2) but closed at their lower end by a thin wall 17. The pin tumblers have an outer pin portion 18 of a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the outer groove portion' 15. Each pin portion has a length corresponding to the length of the groove portion 15 and the ends of each pin portion 1S are rounded oli as shown in FIG. 2 so that the end surfaces 19 `are substantially flush and do not project from the cylinder surface when the pin tumblers are in a predetermined position as shown for the left hand pin tumbler in FIG. 2. On the other hand the pin tumblers may project from the cylinder and enter into the bores 3 to 6 of the plug 1 as shown for the right-hand pin tumbler in FIG. 2. The pin portions 18 are machined of one piece with intermediate portions 2@ of the pin tumblers, such intermediate portions having a substantially semi-circular cross section corresponding to the cross section of the outer groove portions 16. As most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the length of the intermediate portions 2li of each pin tumbler is equal, but the relative position of the portions 1S and 21B of each pin tumbler may be different. Therefore, when the lower end surface 21 of the intermediate portions 211 abut against the end wall 17 las shown in FlG. 2 land also in FIG. 5, the portions 2li of all pin tumblers are supported at a predetermined equal level, but the pin portions 1S are supported in different positions according to the relative position of such pin portions to the intermediate portions associated therewith, so that at least some and usually all of the pin portions 18 project from the lower end of the groove portions 15 and from the surface of the cylinder 7 respectively into the associated bores of the plug 1 thereby locking the cylinder in the plug. A driving pin 22 extends from the center of the plane surface of each intermediate portion 2t) into the slot formed in the cylinder 7. The height of the pins 22 substantially corresponds to the depth of the grooves 13 and 14 of the key so that the pins will run into the grooves 13 and 141 when the key is inserted into the slot of the cylinder 7.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 illustrate the cylinder and pin tumblers in locking position, whereby the bolt work may be in open or closed position. Since at least some of the pin tumbler portions 18 engage into bores 5 of the lower pair of rows of bores any rotating movement of the cylinder 7 in the plug 1 is impossible so that the lock cannot be rotated from its closed position to its open position or vice versa. However, when the key is inserted into the lock cylinder, the driving pins 22 of both rows of pin tumblers will enter into the lower groove 13 visible in FIG. l and the rear lower groove 14 situated behind the visible groove 13 and having a shape symmetrical to the visible groove 14, so that the pin tumblers are lifted and lowered in accordance with the zigzag shape of the grooves 13 and 14. The shape of the grooves 13 and 14 and the relative position of the pins 22 on the pin tumblers are so correlated that all pin tumblers will be in position entirely within the cylinder 7 as shown in FIG. 6 and for the left-hand pin tumbler shown in FIG. 2 when the key is completely inserted. All pin turnblers being thus disengaged from the bores of the plug 1 the cylinder may now be rotated by an angle of 90 for closing or opening the lock. When the desired angular position of the cylinder 7 is reached the key may be retracted from the lock whereby the pin tumblers are returned to their rest positions indicated in FIG. and remain in this position which is determined by the stops formed by the lower end surfaces of the intermediate pin tumbler portions and the inner surface of the end Wall 17.

Theoretically it is possible to insert or retract the key in four different positions spaced by 90. However, in practice only two positions spaced by 90 are used as described whereby the pin tumbers are inclined by 45 in any possible locking position so that the pin tumblers are always maintained in the above rest position determined by the abutment of the lower surfaces of portions 20 against the end wall 17 by gravity. Springs may thus be omitted. It is possible to provide ample clearance of the pin tumblers in their guiding grooves so that low forces are required for shifting the .pin tumblers by the key.

In many applications of the lock it is desired to rotate the cylinder by 360 from open to closed position. Under these ycircumstances the plug 1 is positioned as shown in FIG. 2 and the horizonal bores 4 and 6 of the plug may be omitted. When rotating the lock by 360 it is obvious that only two diametrally opposite rows of bores, for instance bores 3 and 5 have to be provided in the plug 1 because the pin tumblers are generally controlled to project from the cylinder 7 upwardly and downwardly when the key is inserted or retracted from the lock. However, it may be desired to prevent retraction of the key from the lock when it has only been rotated by 180 instead of 360. Since the key is absolutely symmetrical and may be used in two opposite positions, the user cannot judge whether he has turned the key by a half or a full revolution. To this end bores 3 and 5 may be omitted in one position of the plug 1 as shown in FIG. 7 and no pin tumbler is charged in the corresponding grooves of the cylinder 7. As shown in FIG. 7, the pin tumbler portions 18 are in proper alignment with the bores 3 and 5 respectively for one single position of the cylinder in the plug. The key may be inserted or retracted for this position because all the pin tumblers may properly enter into associated bores 3 and 5. However, when the cylinder is rotated by 180 the left-hand outer pin tumbler portion 18a will now assume the symmetrically opposite position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7 and since no bores 3 and 5 are provided in this position, this pin tumbler cannot be displaced by the key groove 13 or 14 engaging the driving pin 22 of this pin tumbler 18a and therefore the key cannot be retracted from the lock.

With the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 the number of pin tumblers is reduced by one and therefore, the number .of possible modifications of the lock are reduced accordingly. This drawback is avoided with the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. This lock has a plug 1 comprising two diametrically opposite pairs of rows of five bores 3 and 5 respectively, whereby the bores of one row are axially shifted or staggered relatively to the bores of the other row. The grooves 15, 16 of the cylinder of this lock and consequently the pin tumblers are staggered accordingly so that only for the one angular position shown in FIG. 8 of the cylinder 7 in the plug 1 the pin tumbler portions 18 are in axial alignment with all the bores 3 and 5 respectively of the plug so that [the key may be introduced and retracted as described above, because the pin portions are allowed to enter into the bores 3 and 5. However, when the cylinder is rotated by from the position shown in FIG. 8 it is obvious that the pin portions 18 will no longer be in alignment with bores 3 and 5. This is shown for two pins 18b and 18e of which the positions after a rotation by 180 are shown in dotted lines. Therefore, no pin tumbler may be displaced for this position and it is impossible to retract the key. It is obvious that the control grooves 13 and 14 of the key are staggered in accordance with the staggered arrangement of the bores 3 and 5 and the pin tumblers 18 respectively.

Except for the staggering of the rows of bores 3 and 5 and of the pin tumblers the modified forms shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6.

Manufacture of the locks described above is particularly simple in that the plug is a simple cylinder with a coaxial bore and the bores 3-6 such as the grooves 15, 16 of the pin tumbler cylinder may be bored on the same machine with the same adjustment of spaces between adjacent bores and grooves respectively.

What is claimed is:

1. A cylinder lock comprising a pin tumbler cylinder rotatably mounted in an outer cylinder or plug, a slot in said pin tumbler cylinder for insertion of a key, groove means in opposite side surfaces of the key, two axially extending rows of guide grooves in opposite side surfaces of said slot and a pin tumbler inserted in each of said guide grooves for displacement in substantially radial direction, such pin tumblers having drive means extending into said slot and adapted for engagement of said groove means of the key, rows of apertures in said plug in coaxial alignment with said rows of guide grooves and pin tumblers respectively when the said pin tumbler cylinder is in a predetermined position, the cross section of said apertures of the plug corresponding to the cross section of said pin tumblers, said rows of guide grooves, pin tumblers and apertures being shifted relatively to each other in axial direction.

2. A cylinder lock comprising a pin tumbler cylinder rotatably mounted in an outer cylinder or plug, a slot in said pin tumbler cylinder for insertion of a key, groove means in opposite side surfaces of the key, rst and second axially extending rows of guide grooves in opposite side surfaces of said slot and pin tumblers inserted in said guide grooves for displacement in substantially radial direction, such pin tumblers having drive means extending into said slot and adapted for engagement of said groove means of the key, rst and second rows of apertures in said plug in axial alignment with said rows of guide grooves and pin .tumblers respectively when the said pin tumbler cylinder is in at least two predetermined opposite positions, all apertures of the plug having the same cross section as said pin tumblers and adapted to receive a pin tumbler, said rst row of guide grooves, pin tumblers and apertures having one additional aperture and associated pin tumbler than said second row, each of said rows having a number of guide grooves equal to the number of apertures in said first row.

3. A cylinder lock comprising a pin tumbler cylinder rotatably mounted in an outer cylinder or plug, the tumbler cylinder having a slot of a flat cross section adapted to receive a key having a cross section substantially corresponding to the cross section of the slot, a number of axially spaced grooves in the side surfaces of the slot, extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the slot, each of said grooves having an outer portion of substantially circular cross section spaced from the slot and extending across the cylinder and an inner portion interconnecting the said outer groove portion with the slot, tumbler pins in said grooves having each a pin portion of substantially circular cross section in said outer groove portion and an intermediate portion having a cross section corresponding to the cross section of `the said inner groove portion with a at inner surface flush with the slot surface and a driving pin extending from each of said flat inner surfaces of the tumbler pins into the slot for engagement with said key, the key having groove means in its side surface for engagement with said driving pins.

4. A cylinder lock according to claim 3, said inner portion of the grooves and said intermediate portion of the tumbler pins having a cross section corresponding to a part of a circle intersecting with the circular cross section of the outer groove portion.

5. A cylinder lock comprising a pin tumbler cylinder rotatably mounted in an outer cylinder or plug, the turnbler cylinder having a slot of fiat cross section adapted to receive a key having a cross section substantially corresponding to the cross section of the slot, a number of axially spaced grooves inthe side surfaces of the slot, extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the slot, each of said grooves extending across the cylinder and having an outer portion and an inner portion interconnecting the said outer groove portion with the slot and extending from one surface of the cylinder to a stop surface formed at the other end of the inner portion, tumbler pins in said grooves having each a pin portion guided in said outer groove portion and an intermediate portion guided in said inner groove portion and forming a stop surface, said stop surfaces of the inner groove portion and of the .tumbler pins contacting each other for determining a locking position of said tumbler pins when the key i-s removed from the lock, and driving pins on each of said tumbler pins extending from said intermediate tumbler portion into said slot, said key having slots in its side surfaces for engagement of said driving pins.

References Cited bythe Examiner EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

ALBERT H. KA-MPE, Examiner.

P. TEI'IELBAUM, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CYLINDER LOCK COMPRISING A PIN TUMBLER CYLINDER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN AN OUTER CYLINDER OR PLUG, A SLOT IN SAID PIN TUMBLER CYLINDER FOR INSERTION OF A KEY, GROOVE MEANS IN OPPOSITE SIDE SURFACES OF THE KEY, TWO AXIALLY EXTENDING ROWS OF GUIDE GROOVES IN OPPOSITE SIDE SURFACES OF SAID SLOT AND A PIN TUMBLER INSERTED IN EACH OF SAID GUIDE GROOVES FOR DISPLACEMENT IN SUBSTANTIALLY RADIAL DIRECTION, SUCH PIN TUMBLERS HAVING DRIVE MEANS EXTENDING INTO SAID SLOT AND ADAPTED FRO ENGAGEMENT OF SAID GROOVE MEANS OF THE KEY, ROWS OF APERTURES IN SAID PLUG IN COAXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID ROWS OF GUIDE GROOVES AND PIN TUBLERS RESPECTIVELY WHEN THE SAID PIN TUMBLER CYLINDER IS IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION, THE CROSS SECTION OF SAID APERTURES OF THE PLUG CORRESPONDING TO THE CROSS SECTION OF SAID PIN TUMBLERS, SAID ROWS OF GUIDE GROOVES, PIN TUMBLERS AND APERTURES BEING SHIFTED RELATIVELY TO EACH OTHER IN AXIAL DIRECTION. 